Using mac Hardware for Windows

We're revisiting our VM strategy for Mac users. I noticed the Parallels announcement today, but they have horrible support. VMWare Fusion is likely going to be our solution (we have huge investment with VMWare so getting prompt support is not an issue).
Nichols, Jared - 1170 - MITLL jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu wrote:

A question that will likely come up is how we will handle (charge) for support of these VMs. So wondered, how are you guys handling MAC Addresses on these VMs...are you tracking them?

Don

As far as I'm aware, once Windows is installed, Microsoft will support it. Apple supports BootCamp but not installation of Windows. So you've got a support gap there. If you have install problems, you're on your own.

j
---
Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

We have macbook airs running windows 7 and I would highly recommend against it. Anytime firmware updates come out you never know if they are going to work with the windows side. We constantly have the airs in our office trying to solve problems that have no documentation. I recommend you take a look at the Samsung 9 series we have far less problems with those.

Lee Sandler | Technology Support Specialist | o:612.215.9812 | m:612.810.7093 | lsandler at oco.com
OLSON: CONNECTION IS ALL THAT COUNTS | www.oco.com

Seems curious that you are willing to support a Windows only Mac but not a
dual-boot one...the former is much more difficult to deal with. Firmware
updates etc.

Ryan M. Manly
Glenbrook High Schools

Bootcamp IMHO should never be used in a Business environment. It was originally developed for switchers. As man have pointed out Firmware, Drivers, Updates etc aren't always readily available.
--
Matt Lee, CCA/ACMT/ACPT/ACDT
Senior IT Analyst / Desktop Architecture Team / Apple S.M.E / JAMF Casper Administrator
Fox Networks Group

Windows in a VM is much more supportable
---
Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

Agreed a Million percent.

Its also a good idea to keep an open dialog with client about you Windows Teams Update schedule so that the VM's are getting updated regularly. Remember we "may not get viriuses" but we can still host and transmit them.

--
Matt Lee, CCA/ACMT/ACPT/ACDT
Senior IT Analyst / Desktop Architecture Team / Apple S.M.E / JAMF Casper Administrator
Fox Networks Group

Right. Our VMs are treated like physical boxes on the network. SCCM manages them, patches them and everything. It works out pretty well. Once it's deployed, we don't have to worry about it on our end.

j
---
Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

Same here, but we use LANdesk for Windows. But Mac users requiring Windows run them inside Parallels, VirtualBox or VMware Fusion.
--
Walter Rowe, System Hosting
Enterprise Systems / OISM
walter.rowe at nist.gov<mailto:walter.rowe at nist.gov>
301-975-2885

We have NAC that handles all MAC registration and tracking on the network.
---
Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

I am also agree with @jarednichols Apple supports BootCamp but not installation of Windows.